Australian players will have to wait for IPL salary

New Delhi/Sydney, May 18 (IANS) Australian cricketers, who reportedly voiced their concern for the delay in their Indian Premier League (IPL) fat pay cheques, would have to wait for some more time to see their bank coffers full. Kings XI Punjab chief executive Neil Maxwell Sunday said it would take some time for the money to be transferred to the players and they need to be patient.

Maxwell, who also manages top Australian cricketers like Brett Lee, Michael Hussey and Shane Watson, said the payments were being done in phases.

“The players are being paid in instalments because there are a number of taxation issues. It is the first instalment that is taking the most time ,” Maxwell said, reacting to reports in Australian media that players were concerned due to the long delay in their IPL payments.

“I think too much is being made out of it. It’s a little lengthy process and everyone has to be patient. The players are contracted with their franchisees and they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding,” Maxwell told NDTV.

Australia’s national cricketers had a short stint in IPL and had to leave to play against the West Indies.

Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) chief Paul Marsh has confirmed that they are preparing to take firmer action if there is no breakthrough soon, according to a report in The Sunday Age.

One Australian player confided to the newspaper that he had been told three times that his wages were on the way.

“First, I was told it would be in two weeks,” he said.

“That passed by and I was told it would be in the following week. Then I was told it would be in the next few days. I just said ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’.”

Australian national cricketers were bought by the franchise owners just for a few matches at the start of the IPL since they had to leave for the West Indies tour.

Skipper Ricky Ponting, pace spearhead Brett Lee, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich and all-rounder Andrew Symonds were among the Australian players to have played in the IPL.